Latest news with #flexiblework
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Welcome to the ‘infinite workday' of 8 p.m. meetings and constant messages
Workers are struggling to cope with a 'seemingly infinite workday,' involving an increasing load of meetings scheduled at 8 p.m. or later and a near-constant stream of interruptions, according to new research by Microsoft. The company analyzed data from users of Microsoft 365 services — which include Outlook and PowerPoint — globally between mid-January and mid-February. It found that the number of meetings booked between 8 p.m. and just before midnight had risen 16% compared with last year. Geographically dispersed teams, as well as those with flexible working arrangements, were responsible for much of that increase. 'The infinite workday… starts early, mostly in email, and quickly swells to a focus-sapping flood of messages, meetings, and interruptions,' Microsoft said in a report Tuesday. The company found that the average worker is interrupted every two minutes by a meeting, an email or a chat notification during a standard eight-hour shift — adding up to 275 times a day. And those messages don't stop after they've clocked off. During the study period, the average employee sent or received 58 instant messages outside of their core working hours — a jump of 15% from last year. The typical worker also receives 117 emails per day and, by 10 p.m., almost one-third of employees are back in their inboxes, 'pointing to a steady rise in after-hours activity,' Microsoft noted. 'The modern workday for many has no clear start or finish,' the company said in its report. 'As business demands grow more complex and expectations continue to rise, time once reserved for focus or recovery may now be spent catching up, prepping, and chasing clarity.' 'It's the professional equivalent of needing to assemble a bike before every ride. Too much energy is spent organizing chaos before meaningful work can begin,' it added. One outcome is that one-third of workers feel it has been 'impossible to keep up' with the pace of work over the past five years, according to a Microsoft-commissioned survey of 31,000 employees around the world, cited in the Tuesday report. 'Each email or message notification may seem small, but together they can set a frenetic tempo for the day ahead,' the company said. Half of all meetings take place between 9–11 a.m. and 1–3 p.m., Microsoft also found, 'precisely when, as research shows, many people have a natural productivity spike in their day, due to their circadian rhythms.' Ultimately, Microsoft said, meeting-hungry bosses and colleagues sap workers' productivity, with some time-starved employees forced to catch up at the weekend. 'Instead of deep work… prime hours are spent cycling through a carousel of calls,' the company noted. Artificial intelligence could help lighten the load for workers, according to Microsoft. The technology can help carry out 'low-value' administrative tasks, it said, freeing up time for people to work on what truly benefits the organization. However, the rise of AI has fueled anxiety about the technology's potential to oust human workers from their jobs. According to a survey by the World Economic Forum, published in January, 41% of employers intend to downsize their workforce as AI automates certain tasks. CNN's Olesya Dmitracova contributed reporting.
CNN
4 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Welcome to the ‘infinite workday' of 8 p.m. meetings and constant messages
Workers are struggling to cope with a 'seemingly infinite workday,' involving an increasing load of meetings scheduled at 8 p.m. or later and a near-constant stream of interruptions, according to new research by Microsoft. The company analyzed data from users of Microsoft 365 services — which include Outlook and PowerPoint — globally between mid-January and mid-February. It found that the number of meetings booked between 8 p.m. and just before midnight had risen 16% compared with last year. Geographically dispersed teams, as well as those with flexible working arrangements, were responsible for much of that increase. 'The infinite workday… starts early, mostly in email, and quickly swells to a focus-sapping flood of messages, meetings, and interruptions,' Microsoft said in a report Tuesday. The company found that the average worker is interrupted every two minutes by a meeting, an email or a chat notification during a standard eight-hour shift — adding up to 275 times a day. And those messages don't stop after they've clocked off. During the study period, the average employee sent or received 58 instant messages outside of their core working hours — a jump of 15% from last year. The typical worker also receives 117 emails per day and, by 10 p.m., almost one-third of employees are back in their inboxes, 'pointing to a steady rise in after-hours activity,' Microsoft noted. 'The modern workday for many has no clear start or finish,' the company said in its report. 'As business demands grow more complex and expectations continue to rise, time once reserved for focus or recovery may now be spent catching up, prepping, and chasing clarity.' 'It's the professional equivalent of needing to assemble a bike before every ride. Too much energy is spent organizing chaos before meaningful work can begin,' it added. One outcome is that one-third of workers feel it has been 'impossible to keep up' with the pace of work over the past five years, according to a Microsoft-commissioned survey of 31,000 employees around the world, cited in the Tuesday report. 'Each email or message notification may seem small, but together they can set a frenetic tempo for the day ahead,' the company said. Half of all meetings take place between 9–11 a.m. and 1–3 p.m., Microsoft also found, 'precisely when, as research shows, many people have a natural productivity spike in their day, due to their circadian rhythms.' Ultimately, Microsoft said, meeting-hungry bosses and colleagues sap workers' productivity, with some time-starved employees forced to catch up at the weekend. 'Instead of deep work… prime hours are spent cycling through a carousel of calls,' the company noted. Artificial intelligence could help lighten the load for workers, according to Microsoft. The technology can help carry out 'low-value' administrative tasks, it said, freeing up time for people to work on what truly benefits the organization. However, the rise of AI has fueled anxiety about the technology's potential to oust human workers from their jobs. According to a survey by the World Economic Forum, published in January, 41% of employers intend to downsize their workforce as AI automates certain tasks. CNN's Olesya Dmitracova contributed reporting.
The National
4 days ago
- Health
- The National
Caregivers for elderly parents in Abu Dhabi able to apply for flexible working under new scheme
People caring for their elderly parents in Abu Dhabi are able to avail of a flexible working programme as part of an initiative to enhance the well-being of senior citizens. President Sheikh Mohamed launched the Barakatna project in April to improve the efficiency of home care provided to the elderly in a suitable family setting with the aim of ensuring they enjoy a stable, healthy and fulfilling life. It was announced by Abu Dhabi Media Office on Monday that those caring for their elderly parents could benefit from 'flexible work systems'. 'Home care requires commitment and special attention, and we are working on providing the necessary regulations to support this responsibility, including the presence of a dedicated nurse for the elderly, along with continuing co-ordination with employers, said Mariam Mohammed Al Rumaithi, director general of the Family Development Foundation. The scheme reflects the extensive efforts being made to ensure the stability and quality of life of those providing care for the elderly, said Ms Al Rumaithi. The initiative seeks to empower caregivers to access these systems and strengthen the role of children in supporting and caring for the elderly, she added. 'We are proud to be part of this inspiring humanitarian initiative, which aims to develop regulatory human resources policies within the Abu Dhabi government and empower employees to fulfil their family responsibilities without compromising their professional performance,' said Ibrahim Nasser, undersecretary of the Department of Government Enablement. When Sheikh Mohamed launched the scheme in April, he spoke of the vital role the elderly play in society, describing them as a vital pillar of society whose wisdom, experience and resilience help to guide younger generations. Senior citizens remain an integral part of the nation's social fabric, he added. Among the other services, of the scheme is providing temporary alternative care services when family members are unable to provide the level required. The scheme will also allow for home improvements to be carried out, in facilities used by senior citizens, to support primary caregivers.
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
StanChart CEO Says He's in No Rush for Return-to-Office Mandates
Standard Chartered Plc said it would maintain a flexible attitude toward its employees' working arrangements, bucking a trend among some of its Wall Street rivals that are ordering workers to return to office five days a week. After a recent assessment, the London-listed lender concluded that keeping the 'current approach, with strong guardrails, remains right for us,' Chief Executive Officer Bill Winters said in an internal memo seen by Bloomberg News.
Entrepreneur
11-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Editor's Note: Home Working is Great – Until the Company Gets Too Big
53% of employees say they would consider quitting if asked to increase their in-office presence, emphasizing the ongoing demand for flexible work arrangements. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The new survey on employment sentiment in the UAE, by Michael Page, a global recruitment consultancy, makes fascinating reading. "Despite economic uncertainty, 77%of professionals in the UAE are actively exploring new job opportunities, a sharp rise from 65% in 2024," the survey said. Basically a polite way of saying the majority of your colleagues (and probably you as well) are job hunting. "Companies that can offer clear answers to the pressing questions of today's professionals are better positioned to stand out in a complex talent market," the survey said. It added that recent years have brought dramatic shifts in workplace dynamics in the country, fueled by evolving priorities, new expectations, and rapid AI advancements. But here is the really key bit: while only 34% currently work hybrid, 53% of employees say they would consider quitting if asked to increase their in-office presence, emphasizing the ongoing demand for flexible work arrangements, it said. Unless I read that wrong, what this is saying is that the majority of people would give up their job, and step into the unknown, rather than having to consider actually coming into work. I know there are multiple views on this. But the main point I believe is that companies need to be clear from the outset what their policy is, otherwise, it leads to a muddled work environment where nobody is quite sure who is where and what they are doing. This is especially true is companies with over 200 staff, where communication break downs between those in and out of the office are more common. I have heard many stories of fairly large organizations – some with over 500 staff – where at least 10% are often believed to be "missing." The bigger the organization, the easier it is to disappear from everything but the payroll. "The message from UAE professionals is loud and clear. They want clear answers, purpose, trust, flexibility, and future-focused leadership, said Jon Ede, Regional Director UAE at Michael Page. He couldn't be more right. But in my view, home working policies can be very effective – until companies reach a certain scale, probably the 200 staff mark.
